Editor’s note: This is a new version of an article first published in October 2023, updated to reflect FIFA’s publication of the official bid evaluation report
FIFA has published the official bid evaluation report for the 2030 World Cup in Spain, Portugal and Morocco.
The three countries’ joint bid will also see the tournament’s first three matches played in Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay as part of a centenary celebration and ceremony “in recognition of Uruguay’s role as the host and winner of the 1930 edition”.
The 2030 bid, which like the 2034 bid from Saudi Arabia does not have a rival, will be voted on by the member nations at the FIFA Congress on December 11.
Only one country can host the final, however, with three leading venues battling it out for the honour of doing so.
Who are the front runners?
FIFA’s bid evaluation confirmed that three venues — Estadio Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid, Camp Nou in Barcelona, and Grand Stade Hassan II in Casablanca — are in play for the opening match and the final.
One thing has been very clear throughout Spain’s attempt to host the 2030 tournament, from the initial idea of an ‘Iberian bid’ with just Portugal, through the brief dalliance with the possibility Ukraine would host some games, to joining up with Morocco and, finally, the inclusion of three games in South America.
Everyone in Spain has always been sure that the final would be held in Real Madrid’s Bernabeu — just as it was in 1982 when Italy beat West Germany 3-1.
Given FIFA rules state the final must be held in a stadium with a capacity of at least 80,000, Barcelona’s 105,000-capacity Camp Nou could in theory be an alternative option, but its biggest ambition would most likely be a semi-final.
However, neither Spanish prime minister Pedro Sanchez nor former Spanish Football Association (RFEF) president Pedro Rocha mentioned the final or the Bernabeu in their statements when hosting rights were settled in October 2023.
Morocco, meanwhile, has the ambition to host the final in Casablanca, in a stadium that is not yet built but plans to become the world’s largest, with a capacity of 115,000.
However, the Moroccan Football Association knows there are other cities and other candidate stadiums. They see it as far from certain that their new stadium in Casablanca would be chosen, but they do consider it reasonable to think it could host one of the semi-finals.
As for Portugal, three venues will feature at the tournament: Porto’s Estadio do Dragao, Sporting Lisbon’s Estadio Jose Alvalade and Benfica’s Estadio da Luz. None of these has a capacity of over 80,000; Benfica’s is the highest at around 65,000.
What is the official FIFA procedure? Do they decide?
FIFA’s decision to move ahead with the six-country idea for 2030 came as a surprise to many — including within Spain.
According to RFEF sources, who were not authorised to speak on the record, there is still a long process to go through before it is decided how many games are played in Spain, Portugal and Morocco and how many host stadiums each country gets.
The bid has put forward a total of 20 stadia, exceeding the minimum of 14 required which FIFA says allows “for ample flexibility in selecting a diverse and truly memorable range of stadiums”.
The evidence so far is that FIFA and its president Gianni Infantino are taking a clear leading role and that the Spanish government is more significantly involved than its FA, which remains in turmoil following the departure of former president Luis Rubiales last summer.
The feeling in Spain is that the Moroccan FA has been emboldened by Spain’s weakness and is making an attempt to secure as many important games as possible — hence its president Fouzi Lekjaa stating a new stadium would be built in Casablanca that could host the final.
So where is the final most likely to end up?
The Bernabeu remains the favourite.
Sources with knowledge of institutional relations at the highest level, who declined to be named to protect relationships, acknowledged to The Athletic at the time of the announcement last year that Madrid president Florentino Perez’s closeness with Infantino would be a big factor.
So it still remains unthinkable — in Spain, at least — that the final could be held anywhere other than at Madrid’s home.
However, with so much still to be decided about the tournament, the RFEF may still have to cede more than they would like. That could include reducing its number of host cities or sharing out other key games, for instance.
What other Spanish venues will be used?
Spain had initially intended to put forward 13 venues but FIFA regulations state a maximum of 20 stadiums can be presented.
The RFEF has therefore proposed 11 stadiums to host matches at the 2030 tournament with Anoeta (Donostia-San Sebastian), Estadio La Cartuja (Seville) and San Mames (Bilbao) included.
FIFA’s rules state group games must be played in stadiums that hold more than 40,000 spectators and the semi-finals be played in grounds with a capacity of at least 60,000.
Atletico Madrid’s Estadio Metropolitano can accommodate more than 70,000 fans but will most likely be used for group games or early knockout rounds rather than a semi-final.
Gran Canaria (Las Palmas), The Rose Garden (Malaga), New Romareda (Zaragoza), RCDE Stadium (Barcelona, Cornella-El Prat) and Riazor (A Coruna) are the other proposed venues.
Some of those stadiums would require redevelopment and some clubs having already put together plans to use money received through the ‘La Liga Boost’ plan funded by CVC Capital Partners to help fund upgrades.
(Top photo: Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)
